Senior seers of Udupi Ashta Mutt carry
out the annual 'mahabhisheka' of Lord Sri Krishna at Krishna Temple here on
Sunday.
Every year, on 'Ashada shuddha
dashami', the annual 'maha panchamruta abhisheka' is performed to the idol of
Lord Krishna, the presiding deity of Sri Krishna Temple. This is preceded by
'ashtami udvartana' held on Friday as per ritual. The sanctum sanctorum is washed
and cleaned for the mahabhisheka to be performed on dashami.
Swamiji of Paryaya Palimaru Mutt,
Sri Krishnapura Mutt, Admar Mutt, Kaniyoor Mutt, Sri Pejavar Adhokshaja Mutt
and Sri take part in the 'mahabhisheka' which is performed with 1,108 tender
coconuts, ghee, milk, curds and honey.
Since the beginning, Lord Krishna
is worshipped and viewed with light emanating from ghee lamps. The sanctum
sanctorum is small and is built as per the diktat of shastra and is bereft of
windows. Thus, the soot emitted by these lamps that burn everyday gets
deposited on the ceiling and walls.
The place where the idol exists is
accessible to none other than the head of Paryaya Mutt, who washes and
maintains it himself. The dust and soot, which may have remained inside the
sanctum sanctorum due to low visibility on the walls, are washed and cleaned
annually in a process called 'udvartana', which in Sanskrit means to wash and
wipe.
The interior of the sanctum
sanctorum is cleaned by the seers of the Ashta Mutt. In order to ensure that
dust does not fall on the Krishna idol, it is covered with armour and sanctum
sanctorum is then washed. The exteriors of the sanctum sanctorum are washed by
the disciples of His Holiness.
The 'tirumanjanam' carried out at the Tirumala temple is similar to this program.